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BLINDED WITH SCIENCE: In a recent article on hip-hop in St. Louis ("Meet the Beat," RFT, Feb. 3), I neglected to pump the best hip-hop radio show in St. Louis, The Science, which is broadcast live by KDHX (88.1 FM) from Blueberry Hill's Elvis Room every Friday night from 10 p.m.-midnight. The show -- which features a rotating crew of DJs including DJ B-Money, DJ Needles, DJ Solo and Dave Morrison (with DJ Alejan, who's now in Chicago, coming in about once a month to sit in) and, as master of ceremonies, (Da Fly) D-Ex -- provides the listener and the crowd with music you don't hear on the commercial hip-hop station, music that's more cutting-edge, independent-minded and free-spirited.

You can tune in on the radio, but the best way to experience The Science is to be there in the flesh -- you gotta be 21 -- because it's like a weekly guaranteed party, replete with DJs, dancing and an overall positive vibe -- and it lasts till 1 a.m. Fittingly, it's in the basement, and the underground atmosphere gives you the feeling of walking into a wonderful secret: You descend from the standing-room-only Friday-night chaos of Blueberry Hill above, down the stairs into this subterranean bliss of beats echoing out of every cranny, with everybody grooving and laughing. Kudos to KDHX and Blueberry Hill for providing the canvas on which the DJs are spreading their magic.

While you're there, walk up to DJ Needles and ask him about his recent mix tape -- he'll sell you one for a fin. On it, Needles works the turntables for 90 minutes nonstop, combining the best of the new of the underground from both independent and major-label artists. For clueless souls looking for a place to dive in, the tape offers hope that it's never too late to at least try to catch up, and for the clued, the mix teases with some new cuts, most notably the killer "Never Lose Touch" by Defari, who's coming out with a full-length on Tommy Boy next month. You can keep up with Pete Rock, Black Moon, Black Star, Gang Starr, Hieroglyphics, A Tribe Called Quest, Lauryn Hill and others on the tape -- highly recommended.

DJs, MCs and promoters, as well as polka-, country-, metal-, indie- and techno-heads: Got a mix tape or a gig or a new recording you want some coverage for? Don't hesitate: Write Randall Roberts, 6358 Delmar, Suite 200, St. Louis, MO 63130.